Elon Musk Accuses Apple of Favoring ChatGPT Over Grok and X

Elon Musk has reignited tensions with Apple, accusing the tech giant of sidelining his products—Grok and X—in the App Store’s coveted “Must Have” section, while promoting rival services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The dispute, while framed as a question of app visibility, taps into a much larger debate over competition, platform power, and the thin line between curation and anti-competitive conduct.

A Public Challenge to Apple’s App Store Policies

On Monday, Musk publicly criticized Apple’s promotion strategy, questioning why X, the top-ranked news app globally, and Grok, which ranks fifth among all apps, were excluded from the “Must Have” list. Taking to his own platform, he asked pointedly:

“Hey Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know.”

The remarks underscored a growing rivalry between Musk and Apple, particularly in the artificial intelligence space. Musk alleges that Apple’s editorial choices reveal a structural bias toward ChatGPT, undermining fair competition in a rapidly evolving sector.

The Strategic Power of App Store Visibility

At the core of the dispute is visibility within iOS. The “Must Have” section functions as a premium storefront, capable of driving millions of downloads and shaping public adoption of apps. For Musk, exclusion from this spotlight despite strong performance metrics is evidence of Apple leveraging its dominant position to influence the AI market.

These accusations come at a time when Apple is already facing scrutiny from regulators in the United States and Europe over App Store practices, including its commission policies and rules for developers. Musk’s claims could add fuel to ongoing antitrust investigations.

Between Curation and Anti-Competitive Behavior

Legal experts note that the dispute touches on a key legal nuance: platforms generally have the right to curate content, but this right can be abused if it actively distorts competition. Andrew Rossow, CEO of AR Media Consulting, points out that antitrust law is designed to protect competition as a whole, not individual companies. Musk would need to prove that Apple’s practices, rather than internal shortcomings, directly hindered X and Grok’s market success.

Some observers take a harder stance, framing the issue as potential censorship. Himanshu Tyagi, professor at the Indian Institute of Science, argues that if favoritism affects app selection, it risks limiting consumer access to potentially superior AI products.

A Clash With Wider Industry Implications

The confrontation also reflects a broader struggle for control over the technology market. Musk, fresh off securing a $29 billion stock grant to remain at Tesla’s helm, appears determined to defend his influence across multiple sectors. Jesse Glass, a researcher at DecideAI, notes that as innovation in large language models slows, distribution channels like the App Store become even more critical.

What began as a dispute over app promotion could escalate into a legal battle with far-reaching implications for platform governance, developer rights, and market regulation. In an industry where visibility can define success, Apple’s next move may carry consequences that extend well beyond a single editorial decision.